Cyclists angry after race accident 

Cycling groups are upset after an accident during a race on the Coromandel left a man seriously injured in hospital.

43 year-old Brett Burton was taking part in a K2 race on the Peninsula when he was involved in a pile-up, hit by a milk tanker coming in the opposite direction.

Other riders who saw what happened blame an impatient ute driver's overtaking manoevre.

One said she heard an angry horn from behind before seeing the ute, which passed the riders as a milk tanker was coming the other way.

Cycling organisations say it is time to consider a law which holds drivers responsible for collisions involving cyclists.

Stephen McKernon of the Cycling Advocates' Network says current road rules put cars and cyclists in the way of each other, causing unnecessary accidents.

While the Road Code observes good practice for sharing road space with cyclists, there are no particular laws regulating the conduct of motorists and cyclists.

McKernon also says a few small and inexpensive changes to roads could mean safer cycling overall.

Burton has receieved serious head and spinal injuries from the collision, but is in a stable condition.

Police have found and spoken to the ute driver, but suggested that Burton's evasive action was to avoid cyclists, not the vehicle. They themselves claimed that the cyclists were "using the road as if they owned it" - but it remains their word against those of the competitors.

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